Earnhardt Nation

Junior Qualifies Second at Kansas

clubhusband@clubhusband.com (J Pat) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:16:00 +0000

Mark Martin earned the pole for Sunday's Price Chopper 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race after turning a lap at 175.758 mph in qualifying this afternoon at the Kansas Speedway.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. grabbed the outside pole with a speed of 175.279, his best qualifying effort of the 2009 season. Brad Keselowski clocked in at 175.205 to take the third starting spot which gives Hendrick Motorsports a sweep of the top three starting positions.

Earnhardt Nation Website

Kelly Bires has signed a two-year deal with Junior

clubhusband@clubhusband.com (J Pat) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:45:00 +0000

Kelly Bires has signed a two-year deal to drive full time for JR Motorsports in NASCAR's Nationwide Series starting in 2010, the team announced Tuesday.
Bires, 25, may drive the No. 88 or No. 5 JRM Chevrolet next season it remains to be decided, given that JRM is still in the process of find sponsorship for its cars.
Bires, who has posted three top fives and 11 top 10s in the Nationwide Series while driving for a variety of owners, will replace current No. 88 driver Brad Keselowski, who is leaving JRM for a Sprint Cup ride at Penske Racing next season.

Earnhardt Nation Website

NASCAR popularity vote also in playoff mode | www.thatsracin.com

clubhusband@clubhusband.com (J Pat) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:47:00 +0000

NASCAR popularity vote also in playoff mode | www.thatsracin.com: "NASCAR's Chase field is set for the 10-race run to the end of the season and so are the finalists in the most popular driver balloting.

The Sprint Cup playoff features the top-12 drivers, but there are 10 finalists now competing for NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award.

The National Motorsports Press Association administers the annual vote and presents the award, among others.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. collected the award for a sixth time last year. He has won it more than anyone except 16-time winner Bill Elliott and nine-time winner Richard Petty."

Atlanta Sprint Cup - Earnhardt Seventeenth

clubhusband@clubhusband.com (J Pat) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:21:00 +0000

For Earnhardt fans Atlanta was like a good movie with a bad ending. We watched Dale Jr race most of the night in the top ten and a lot of the night in the top five. Then some how he managed to finish 17th after starting tenth with a handful of laps to go.

I don't know if the last pit stop an adjustment was bad. I don't know if he got into the wall in the last laps. Maybe he put on a set of tires that didn't agree with his setup. Whatever the reason it was a disappointment after watching four hours of a very good race to see Junior drop so far so fast.

Earnhardt Nation Website

Danica Patrick will race NASCAR in 2010

clubhusband@clubhusband.com (J Pat) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 17:47:00 +0000

Ed Hinton is reporting, Danica Patrick will run some NASCAR in 2010...trucks and Nationwide.

If this is true it will pretty up the garage. Danica's biggest problem will be her famous temper. In NASCAR she won't be dealing with cake eating Europeans. The good ole boys of NASCAR will take down her racing suit and blister her butt like a screaming child in WalMart if she decides to slap one of them.

Earnhardt Nation Website

Dale Junior finishes third

clubhusband@clubhusband.com (J Pat) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 03:01:00 +0000

Dale Jr ran third most of the night and after a try at fuel strategy that's exactly where he finished the Nationwide race in Atlanta. Kevin Harvick beat out Kyle Busch in a car that ran more like a rocket than an automobile.

Remember tomorrows Sprint Cup race is an evening event starting about 7 PM Eastern.

Earnhardt Nation Website

Junior wins the pole in Atlanta

clubhusband@clubhusband.com (J Pat) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 20:41:00 +0000

Dale Earnhardt Junior won the pole in tonight's Nationwide race in Atlanta. The pole is the tenth Nationwide pole of Junior's career.Earnhardt Nation Website

Earnhardt's Stylized Three to race Again

clubhusband@clubhusband.com (J Pat) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 05:26:00 +0000

Dillon, the grandson of championship car owner Richard Childress, will race a black No. 3 truck in Saturday's inaugural Camping World Truck Series event at Iowa Speedway. It's the first Truck start since 1999 for RCR, which won 20 races and a title on the circuit before the program was shut down to focus on Nationwide Series efforts.Earnhardt Nation Website

Dale Junior and the Chase

clubhusband@clubhusband.com (J Pat) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:52:00 +0000

Two more races till the Chase and I am starting to think Junior is not going to get in. I know, I know, it's not like me to give up so early but it's been a bad year. Every break and brake seemed to go the other way.

Since it is mathematically impossible for Dale Jr to make the Chase it's time to use these races to either practice for next year or just spend the time crashing drivers we don't like. I favor the latter but I am sure Junior will favor the former.

My choice sure would liven up this dull season. His choice would liven up next season.

What choice do you like?

Earnhardt Nation Website

Atlanta Schedule

clubhusband@clubhusband.com (J Pat) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:47:00 +0000

09|04|09 11:10 a.m. Lucas Oil 200 practice
09|04|09 1:30 p.m. Lucas Oil 200 practice
09|04|09 4:30 p.m. Lucas Oil 200 practice
09|04|09 7:10 p.m. Lucas Oil 200 practice
09|05|09 8 a.m. Degree V12 300 practice
09|05|09 9:30 a.m. Degree V12 300 final practice
SPEED 09|05|09 11 a.m. Pep Boys Auto 500 practice
SPEED 09|05|09 1 p.m. Pep Boys Auto 500 final practice
09|05|09 2 p.m. Lucas Oil 200 final practice
SPEED 09|05|09 2:30 p.m. Degree V12 300 qualifying
SPEED 09|05|09 4:30 p.m. Pep Boys Auto 500 qualifying
ESPN2 09|05|09 6:30 p.m. Degree V12 300
09|05|09 6:45 p.m. Lucas Oil 200 qualifying
SPEED 09|05|09 9:30 p.m. Lucas Oil 200
ESPN 09|06|09 7 p.m. Pep Boys Auto 500
Earnhardt Nation Website

Dale Jr in Atlanta

clubhusband@clubhusband.com (J Pat) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:43:00 +0000

Dale Earnhardt Jr makes his 352nd career Sprint Cup start and his 21st at Atlanta The 34-year-old from Kannapolis, N.C., has won 18 races and eight poles and scored 88 top-fives and 141 top-10s in 350 Sprint Cup starts … Earnhardt has one win ,March 2004, one pole November 2001 and 10 top-10 finishes at Atlanta … In three NASCAR Nationwide Series races at the 1.54-mile oval, Earnhardt has two top-three finishes

Earnhardt Nation Website

Don't forget Dale Jr will race in Nationwide

clubhusband@clubhusband.com (J Pat) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:36:00 +0000

Don't forget Dale, JR will be in the number five at Atlanta's Nationwide race on September 5 ( Saturday )

Earnhardt Nation Website

Keselowski to move to Penske Racing in 2010 - USATODAY.com

clubhusband@clubhusband.com (J Pat) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:50:00 +0000

Keselowski to move to Penske Racing in 2010 - USATODAY.com: "'Brad has shown terrific success on track the past several years and has quickly established himself as one of the top young stars in racing,' team owner Roger Penske said in a statement. 'He comes from an impressive family background in motorsports. He is a proven winner and a welcome addition to our team.'

Terms of the contract were not announced, and a release sent by the team said only that Keselowski will drive for Penske next season. That would fit with the message Rick Hendrick sent across the garage two weeks ago, when he warned that wherever Keselowski drives in 2010 'he'll always be close enough for me to get him and bring him back.'

Keselowski is NASCAR's top young prospect, and currently drives for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the Nationwide Series. He had hoped to move up through Hendrick Motorsports' development program, but Mark Martin decided to drive a full schedule next season and there are no other Cup seats open on NASCAR's top team.

That could change in 2011, and Hendrick could make a play to bring Keselowski back assuming he's only under a one-year deal with Penske. It's also possible that Keselowski is only keeping the No. 12 warm as Penske develops 23-year-old Justin Allgaier."

We didn't finish outside the top ten again

clubhusband@clubhusband.com (J Pat) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:56:00 +0000

Did you notice it's now been three straight weeks we haven't finished below tenth? Sure people could say since it was an off week it doesn't count but this year i am taking any good news I can find!

Earnhardt Nation Website

New Members Board - Forum

clubhusband@clubhusband.com (J Pat) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 23:51:00 +0000

We have built a new forum for Earnhardt Nation. It's not finished but feel free to check it out;

The Nation

Earnhardt Nation Website

Time to correct the Chase's greatest flaw: unfairness - NASCAR - Yahoo! Sports

clubhusband@clubhusband.com (J Pat) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:50:00 +0000

Time to correct the Chase's greatest flaw: unfairness - NASCAR - Yahoo! Sports: "No question, there are some purists out there who despise the thing, who wish it would go the way of bias-ply tires and the hemi engine. They're spitting into the wind. Seasons like this one, overloaded with drama and intrigue over who will get in and who will fall out—in lieu of what would otherwise be a runaway championship race—only serve to justify its existence."

Jeffrey Earnhardt Driving #40 At Montreal

clubhusband@clubhusband.com (J Pat) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:54:00 +0000

Jeffrey Earnhardt Driving #40 At Montreal: "Jeffrey Earnhardt is scheduled to be back in the seat of the Key Motorsports #40 Chevrolet for the NAPA Auto Parts 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series race this Sunday, August 30,2009, at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada. It will be his second career Nationwide start.

'I feel a lot better going into Montreal than I did going into Watkins Glen,' Jeffrey Earnhardt said. 'We've got the experience of making our debut at The Glen behind us and I'm looking forward to another road course. I've heard it's a really nice track and that the fans there are incredible.'"

Dale Jr. Finally Earns Back-To-Back Top 10s - Unrestricted - Unrestricted - Sporting News

clubhusband@clubhusband.com (J Pat) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 16:55:00 +0000

Dale Jr. Finally Earns Back-To-Back Top 10s - Unrestricted - Unrestricted - Sporting News: "BRISTOL, Tenn. – For the first time this season, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has consecutive top-10 NASCAR Sprint Cup finishes.

Fresh off a third-place finish six days earlier at Michigan, Earnhardt Jr. came home ninth in Saturday night's Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway for his fifth top-10 in the season's 24 races."

Bristol: Dale Earnhardt Jr. NASCAR Sprint Cup Race Quotes - P9 :: PaddockTalk :: F1, Formula 1, NASCAR, IndyCar, MotoGP, ALMS, And More!

clubhusband@clubhusband.com (J Pat) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:11:00 +0000

Bristol: Dale Earnhardt Jr. NASCAR Sprint Cup Race Quotes - P9 :: PaddockTalk :: F1, Formula 1, NASCAR, IndyCar, MotoGP, ALMS, And More!: "HOW DID YOU GUYS SLIP BACK THERE AT THE END?

'Well that last run there we were real tight. I needed long runs. My car wasn't good at the restarts and those guys behind us I think had a little bit better tires than we did. I'm real happy. We were running real good. It's a shame we had all them cautions. I think Mark (Martin) could have won the race and we could have probably finished a little bit better. All them cautions just stacked everybody up and we didn't have a good car on the restarts."

Martin's revival keeps drummin' | TriCities

clubhusband@clubhusband.com (J Pat) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 13:10:00 +0000

Martin's revival keeps drummin' | TriCities: "Kyle Busch earned the No. 15, while fan-favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start from the 27th spot.

Earnhardt said he could never find a comfort zone in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.

“I couldn’t get in the corner, it was really loose in and it would just push off,” Earnhardt said. “We will see how it goes. The Chevrolet was good in race trim. We couldn’t get anything going in qualifying trim.

“We will just have to be good on pit road and be smart on the race track, but I think we have a pretty good race car.”"

Earnhardt Marks To Be Featured On Two New Roller Coasters

clubhusband@clubhusband.com (J Pat) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:57:00 +0000

Earnhardt Marks To Be Featured On Two New Roller Coasters: "New roller coasters at two amusement parks -- Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia, and Carowinds in Charlotte -- will debut next year with Dale Earnhardt marks as part of a unique licensing agreement with Dale Earnhardt Inc (DEI). The new 305-foot-tall, $25M coaster at Kings Dominion, being announced today, will be called Intimidator 305 and will measure 5,100 feet in length. The cars, which will carry 'Intimidator' and '3' marks -- after Earnhardt's nickname and car number during his NASCAR days -- will reach speeds of 90 mph"

Earnhardt Jr. gives all the credit to crew with first top-five since April at MIS at FanZone Sports - Racing

clubhusband@clubhusband.com (J Pat) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:47:00 +0000

Earnhardt Jr. gives all the credit to crew with first top-five since April at MIS at FanZone Sports - Racing: "It’s been a while since Dale Earnhardt Jr., the series’s reigning most popular driver, got a top-five finish. Thirteen races to be exact.

However, when Earnhardt Jr. came across the start/finish line in third at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, he was quick to give all the credit to his crew chief and his pit crew.

“Real proud of my team,” Earnhardt Jr. said on pit road after the race. “They did a good job on pit road. Lance (McGrew, crew chief) made some good calls and it got the car driving really good at the end. I’m real proud of my team. I want to thank those guys and give them all the credit. They worked really hard all weekend and gave us a good car.”"

Time for NASCAR to listen to driver complaints - NASCAR News - FOX Sports on MSN

clubhusband@clubhusband.com (J Pat) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Time for NASCAR to listen to driver complaints - NASCAR News - FOX Sports on MSN: "In the past three months, NASCAR has introduced double-file restarts to artificially stimulate the on-track action. The results have been positive and applauded by competitors, the media and fans. Yes, double-file restarts have been a success, but what about the other 90 percent of the racing? What has NASCAR initiated to improve the drivability and passing of the cars?"

Dale Earnhardt Jr. falls short of another MIS win - MLive.com

clubhusband@clubhusband.com (J Pat) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:10:00 +0000

Dale Earnhardt Jr. falls short of another MIS win - MLive.com: "Despite finishing behind winner Brian Vickers and runner-up Jeff Gordon, Earnhardt and his Hendrick Motorsports crew put forth a solid effort.

'The way our luck has been, I wasn't sitting there thinking I was in the catbird seat,' Earnhardt Jr. said. 'I was thinking maybe I'll get on the podium.'"

Earnhardt Nation Website

Fantasy Sports Breaking News - Rotoworld.com

clubhusband@clubhusband.com (J Pat) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 05:01:00 +0000

Fantasy Sports Breaking News - Rotoworld.com: "Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s team was awarded the ‘Strategic Call of the Race’ during the Sprint Cup Carfax 400 at Michigan International Speedway.
The DOW Automotive award ($5,900 bonus) is presented to the team that makes the best strategic call over the course of each race. Earnhardt’s No. 88 National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet finished 3rd in the race and he moved up 4 spots to 21st in the 2009 Sprint Cup Series standings. Aug. 16 - 8:59 pm et"

Earnhardt Nation Website